TV Notebook: New KILT boss nears decisions

TV-RADIO NOTEBOOKNew boss at KILT to settle issues soon

Published 5:30 am, Friday, July 24, 2009

With his voice mail and e-mail accounts up and running, new KILT (610 AM) program director Gavin Spittle is moving full speed ahead in calculating the station’s course of action as football season approaches.

Spittle’s initial tasks include deciding how to reconfigure the station’s morning drive and/or afternoon drive lineups in the wake of Andre Ware’s departure and, in conjunction with corporate parent CBS Radio, what to do with weekends once Sporting News Radio departs in September.

"Those decisions will be sooner rather than later," he said. "I’m trying to see where everybody fits in at the station. We have some talented people and some likable people. It’s finding out where they fit best.

"One thing I can say is that we are going to be a caller-friendly radio station. We want to create a station where the listeners feel they know the hosts."

The move to weekly ratings reports from Arbitron has increased the pressure at some stations, but Spittle, who came to Houston from CBS Radio’s KRLD-FM in Dallas, seems confident that he has time to assess matters, make decisions and see how things develop.

"We want to put the right parts in place, believe in them and let them grow," he said. "We’re a society based on immediacy, but you can’t put a seed in the ground and expect a tree tomorrow. It needs to grow.

"What is great is that this station has a heritage in the market and great partnerships with the Texans, Rockets and the University of Texas, and we look forward to expanding those relationships. … We don’t want to rush decisions. We want to make the right decisions. "

His plans, however, do not include the weekend Sunday Block Party show hosted by Craig Shelton. Shelton was told Thursday that the show has been dropped.

"I was given an opportunity and learned some things, and (the station) gave me a resume," Shelton said. "This is a diverse city, and I think my show reflected that.

"I’ve got a lot to learn. I hope to stay involved. I love talk radio, and I’m hoping for another opportunity."

Spittle said he had no immediate plans on replacing the Sunday show.

"(Shelton and co-host Bobby Z) are great guys, and I wish them the best of luck," he said. "It’s one of those situations where a new coach comes in and has to make some changes."

< h3>Jim Nantz labored during his recent vacation, but you can hardly call it work. Inspired by Greg Norman’s performance a year ago, Nantz traveled to Turnberry for the British Open and did a brief stint on BBC television Sunday as the Beeb’s Peter Allis made his daily appearance on ABC.

Nantz also was part of the impromptu search committee looking for Tiger Woods’ errant shot on the 10th hole during the second round and followed Tom Watson for most of his final three rounds.

"I made the observation that he needed to summon the spirit of Old Tom Morris and Young Tom Morris, the founding fathers (of championship golf)," Nantz said. "He had won (the Open) as Young Tom, and now he was trying to win it as Old Tom."

Had Watson won, Nantz said, "It would have been one of the all-time stories, one of the greatest individual triumphs in the history of sports." Even though Watson fell short, he added, "You have to give him his due. I don’t think we will ever see anybody in that sport in our lifetime make a run like that."

KTBU (Channel 55) will pick up ESPN Regional’s SEC Network 11 a.m. Saturday football games. Andre Ware will call the games with Dave Neal. There’s no local outlet thus far for the SEC Network’s basketball or baseball games. …

Fox Sports Southwest/Houston re-airs the Texas high school all-star football game at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. … Both networks also will air the Sept. 7 Kirk Herbstreit Varsity Football Series quadrupleheader from Cowboys Stadium, capped by Klein Oak vs. Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame. … Also new on FSS/FSH this fall is a weekly show spotlighting winners of the Ford scholar-athlete awards.

Four DVRs, no waiting

Comcast says in a promotional message to subscribers that ESPN360.com will be available in Houston beginning Aug. 4. ESPNU, meanwhile, launches July 28 at channel 125 on Comcast’s Digital Preferred tier. …

The NFL said Thursday it will move the draft to prime time next year, airing the first round at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 22, the second and third rounds at 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 23, and the final four rounds at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 24. … Vince Young discusses Steve McNair’s death and his on-field struggles with Michael Smith on ESPN’s E:60 at 6 p.m. Tuesday. …

Sean Pendergast has signed a new two-year agreement with KGOW (1560 AM), according to station GM Richard Topper. Topper also said Sporting News Radio host Tim Brando’s show will debut on the station Aug. 17 and that Brando will broadcast from Houston on Aug. 20-21. …

Soccer fans are in a tizzy about word that Telemundo will retain the English-language rights to the Aug. 12 World Cup qualifier between the United States and Mexico. Telemundo notes that the game will air in English on its mun2 service, which is at channel 510 on Comcast, and on the Second Audio Program service at KTMD (Channel 47). …

In seven of the top 10 markets, Fox’s All-Star Game broadcast was the most-watched show of the week ending July 19. America’s Got Talent was No. 1 in Dallas-Fort Worth and Washington, D.C. (baseball didn’t crack the top 10 in DFW); Houston’s most-watched show was Univision’s Premios Juventud Awards, which drew 281,000 viewers to 261,000 for baseball. …

In addition to Versus’ continuing coverage, CBS has its annual Tour de France highlights show at 1 p.m. Sunday. … ESPN has locked up Texas for five Big Monday basketball appearances this season, tying Kansas for top spot in the Big 12. The list includes the Jayhawks-Longhorns game on Austin on Feb. 8. …

Univision says it has sold 65 percent of its ad inventory for the 2010 World Cup and is pacing ahead of its 2006 performance despite the sluggish ad market. … Fox Soccer Channel will air exhibitions next month featuring FC Barcelona against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Aug. 1 and Chivas de Guadalajara on Aug. 8 and D.C. United vs. Real Madrid on Aug. 9. …

Just as Notre Dame football has a home on NBC, Army has agreed to air its home games and neutral site games in which it is the home team on CBS College Sports from 2010 through 2014. The network also will air Army’s home games save one this fall and has a similar agreement with Navy football. …

Universal Sports has a nightly two-hour prime time show at 6 p.m. beginning today from the world aquatics championships in Rome. NBC will have live competition, theorietically including finals featuring Michael Phelps, at 11 a.m. July 26 and Aug. 1-2. UniversalSports.com also will air the entire swimming competition. … CNBC examines the UFC’s recent success in Ultimate Fighting: Fistful of Dollars, at 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 29. …

NFL Network’s Rich Eisen will host the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremonies on Aug. 8, so Chris Berman’s role on the broadcast will be limited to presenting Bills owner Ralph Wilson for induction. … Speaking of which, MLB Network has the Baseball Hall of Fame induction at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. … ESPN will launch expanded Web sites in Dallas, Los Angeles and New York, where it owns radio stations, to duplicate the recently launched ESPNChicago.com …

Sports Business Daily reports that the U.S. Olympic Committee and International Olympic Committee are in talks regarding the USOC’s recent announcement that it will launch a U.S. Olympic Network in conjunction with Comcast. The IOC subsequently voiced concerns that the network could impact its other broadcast partners, including NBC. …

A Pennsylvania state historic marker was dedicated Thursday at the site of NFL Films’ original headquarters in Philadelphia. The building now houses the headquarters of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; NFL Films now is based in Mount Laurel, N.J.